Colorado
14-9,3-9Pac-12
Washington
11-12,3-9Pac-12
Buffs’ comeback falls short
February 09, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CU drops fourth straight
SEATTLE – The Buffaloes clawed back from a 15-point deficit to get within two points of Washington on Sunday. Colorado closed the gap in the third quarter but could not overcome a sluggish start to the day, falling 61-52.
Colorado (14-9, 3-9 Pac-12) dropped its fourth consecutive game, marking CU's longest skid of the season. Washington improves to 11-12 overall and 3-9 in Pac-12 play.
A slow start plagued the Buffs from the get-go. CU shot just 4-for-13 in the first quarter. The Huskies had zero issues getting to the basket early on, helping build an 11-point lead midway through the first quarter.
Junior Mya Hollingshed led CU with 13 points and seven rebounds. She totaled eight in the first half, helping her past 800 career points. Jaylyn Sherrod and Charlotte Whittaker each finished with 11 points. Sherrod added four assists and five rebounds to her final line, while Whittaker snagged three rebounds.
Amber Melgoza led Washington with 12 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washington couldn't have scripted a better start, opening on a 12-4 run. The Huskies shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field in the opening two minutes, including 2-for-2 from behind the 3-point line. Colorado couldn't keep pace with the Huskies' start, going just 1-for-6 to open.
Washington's lead hit 11, 15-4, before CU's defense dug in. The Buffs held Washington to 3-for-14 after its hot start. Clarke and Hollingshed put together a quick 4-0 to cut the UW lead to seven, 15-8, but a 3-pointer from Ali Bamberger pushed the Huskie lead back to double digits.
CU's offensive woes leaked into the start of the second quarter. The Buffs started 0-for-3 from the field but were able to correct course with three consecutive baskets to get eight points, 25-17. A Hollingshted hook shot cut the deficit to seven, 29-22, with just over three minutes to play. The Washington lead hovered between nine and 11 points until Haley Van Dyke got an offensive rebound and layup before the buzzer, giving Washington a 37-24 lead at the break.
The Huskies lead grew to 15, 39-24, in the opening seconds of the second half but the Buffs did not break. .The CU defense held the Huskies to just 2-for-9 shooting in the first five minutes and outscored Washington 11-6. Hollingshed hit a jumper that would start an 8-0 run to get CU back within seven, 39-32. A second surge from Whittaker and Sherrod helped get the Buffs to within one possession, 43-41 with 3:07 to go in the quarter but was as close as it got for Colorado.
Peanut Tuitele opened the fourth quarter with a quick basket to get CU back within three, 47-44. Washington got a pair of key 3-pointers from Mai-Loni Henson to push the lead back to eight points. The Huskies hit free-throws down the stretch, securing the afternoon.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado had nine costly fourth-quarter turnovers. The Huskies made Colorado pay for their late miscues, scoring nine points off the turnovers. Washington totaled 19 points in all off CU's 20 turnovers.
NOTES: CU is now 3-8 all-time in Seattle…Washington outrebounded Colorado 41-31…CU outscored Washington 10-6 in second-chance points and 9-7 on the fast break…Colorado shot 75.0 percent (12-16) from the free-throw line, its best showing since 81.3 percent against Cal (1/26).
NEXT UP: Colorado will host the 25-year reunion of the 1994-95 season next weekend. The Buffs open with California on Friday and Stanford on Sunday.
